US9730588B2ActiveUtilityPatentIndex 41
Photoacoustic measurement device and probe for photoacoustic measurement device
Est. expiryMay 8, 2032(~5.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:ABE TAKEYA
G01N 29/2418A61B 8/4416A61B 8/463A61B 8/5246G01N 29/2462A61B 5/0095A61B 8/14A61B 8/4444A61B 5/0035G01N 2291/023
41
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
22
References
20
Claims
Abstract
An object of the invention is to reduce the size of a probe for a photoacoustic measurement device. A light guide 71 is arranged such that one of a two side surfaces 71 a is closer to a probe axis C which faces a subject than the other side surface and a light emission end surface 71 c is closer to the probe axis C than a light incident end surface 71 b when the probe is used. When a refractive index of the light guide 71 with respect to the light is n1 and a refractive index of a medium around the light guide with respect to the light during photoacoustic measurement is n2 (n2<n1), the light emission end surface 71 c is obliquely formed such that an angle α[°] (where 90°−arcsin(n2/n1)<α<90°) is formed between the light emission end surface 71 c and the side surface 71 a.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1. A probe for a photoacoustic measurement device, comprising:
a light irradiation unit that emits light to be radiated to a subject; and
an acoustic wave detection unit that detects an acoustic wave which is emitted from the subject by the light irradiation,
wherein the light irradiation unit includes a light guide that has a parallel plate shape and includes two side surfaces which are parallel to each other, a light incident end surface on which the light is incident, and a light emission end surface which is opposite to the light incident end surface, with the side surfaces interposed therebetween, and from which the light is emitted,
the light guide is arranged such that one of the two side surfaces is closer to a probe axis which faces the subject than the other side surface and the light emission end surface is closer to the probe axis than the light incident end surface when the probe is used, and
when a refractive index of the light guide with respect to the light is n1 and a refractive index of a medium around the light guide with respect to the light during photoacoustic measurement is n2, an angle α is formed between the light emission end surface and the side surface which is closer to the probe axis, n2<n1 is satisfied, and 90°−arcsin(n2/n1)<α<90° is satisfied.
2. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when an incident angle of light, which travels in parallel to the two side surfaces in the light guide and is emitted from the light emission end surface, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the probe axis is β1 and an inclination angle of the light guide with respect to the probe axis is β2, the following expression is satisfied:
sin
(
90
°
-
α
)
sin
(
90
°
-
α
+
β
1
-
β
2
)
=
n
2
n
1
[
Expression
1
]
3. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an arrangement angle of the light guide is changeable.
4. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein an arrangement angle of the light guide is changeable.
5. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the arrangement angle of the light guide is changeable between a predetermined angle with respect to the probe axis and an angle which is parallel to the probe axis.
6. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 4 ,
wherein the arrangement angle of the light guide is changeable between a predetermined angle with respect to the probe axis and an angle which is parallel to the probe axis.
7. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a plurality of the acoustic wave detection units are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the probe axis, and
the light guide is arranged such that the light emission end surface extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of acoustic wave detection units.
8. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein a plurality of the acoustic wave detection units are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the probe axis, and
the light guide is arranged such that the light emission end surface extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of acoustic wave detection units.
9. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 3 ,
wherein a plurality of the acoustic wave detection units are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the probe axis, and
the light guide is arranged such that the light emission end surface extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of acoustic wave detection units.
10. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 5 ,
wherein a plurality of the acoustic wave detection units are arranged in a line in a direction perpendicular to the probe axis, and
the light guide is arranged such that the light emission end surface extends in the arrangement direction of the plurality of acoustic wave detection units.
11. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein two light guides are provided, with the probe axis interposed therebetween.
12. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 2 ,
wherein two light guides are provided, with the probe axis interposed therebetween.
13. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 11 , further comprising:
shutters that are provided so as to correspond to the two light guides and control light transmission such that light which passes through the light guides is radiated to the subject for different periods.
14. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
optical fibers through which light emitted from a light source is propagated,
wherein the optical fibers are optically coupled to the light incident end surface of the light guide.
15. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 14 ,
wherein three or more optical fibers are provided, are arranged in a zigzag pattern in the light incident end surface of the light guide, and are coupled to the light incident end surface.
16. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a light absorber that adheres to a portion of the light incident end surface of the light guide in which the optical fiber is not arranged.
17. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an optical sensor that detects light which is emitted from the light incident end surface of the light guide to the outside of the light guide.
18. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a contact sensor that detects contact of the probe with the subject.
19. The probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the angle α is in a range of 90°−arcsin(1.33/n1)<α<90°.
20. A photoacoustic measurement device comprising the probe for a photoacoustic measurement device according to claim 1 .Cited by (0)
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